CLASS NOTES

1960s

Dr. George T. Arnold (B.A. ’63, M.A. ’65), MU professor emeritus of journalism, has a novel, Old Mrs. Kimble’s Mansion, scheduled for late fall or early winter publication by Speaking Volumes. Another novel, Wyandotte Bound, was published this past January, and his textbook/resource book, Media Writer’s Handbook, a Guide to Common Writing and Editing Problems, is available in a new seventh edition. He has also published a short story, “One Minute Past Christmas.” All are available on Amazon and other outlets.

Walter Smittle III (B.A. ’65) received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the West Virginia Department of Homeland Security and Gov. Jim Justice. His career included service as a public school teacher, as West Virginia State Fire Marshal and as director of Jackson County, West Virginia’s Office of Emergency Services.

1970s

Connie Reed Beatty (B.A. ’78) was selected as the president of the South Side Neighborhood Organization in Huntington, with approximately 7,000 residents.

Larry Callahan (M.A. ’75), is associate vice president and chief human resources officer at Howard University in Washington, D.C.

Stephen M. “Sam” Hood (B.B.A. ’76) gave a lecture on “Patriots Twice: Former Confederates and the Building of America after the Civil War” in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, late last year. The lecture is based on his recent book of the same title. He is a descendent of Confederate Gen. John Bell Hood, about whom he wrote a book, in 2013.

Dr. H. Keith Spears (B.S. ’70, M.A. ’77) was appointed acting president of Campbellsville University in Kentucky beginning Jan. 1.

1980s

Greg Cottrill (B.S. ’86) serves on the board of the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation and is director of the Doddridge County Parks and Recreation Commission.

Br. Benjamin Cyrus (B.S. ’87) entered Holy Trinity Monastery, a monastery of the Russian Orthodox Church outside Russia, in December 2016.

Michael Enoch (R.B.A. ’80) is vice president of international business development at Mode Audio, which is a U.S. loudspeaker manufacturer.

G.E. McCabe (A.A.S. ’88) has been appointed director of the West Virginia Division of Emergency Management.

Please share your news with us by sending it to the Marshall University Alumni Association One John Marshall Drive Huntington, WV 25755.

Preference will be given to active alumni; other news will be printed as space allows and should be received within six months of the event.

For more Class Notes, go to www.herdalum.com. Peter Wallace (A.B. ’84) will publish two books this year: Comstock & Me: My Brief but Unforgettable Career with the West Virginia Hillbilly (on Amazon.com), a memoir of his work with Jim Comstock on his unique and influential weekly newspaper; and Bread Enough for All: A Day1 Guide to Life, a collection of sermon excerpts by preachers on The Protestant Hour and Day1 radio programs, celebrating the 75th anniversary of the program, which Wallace produces and hosts. Wallace, who resides in Atlanta, is also an Episcopal priest.

1990s

Tammy Belcher (B.B.A. ’95) has been appointed president of First Mutual Bank in Belpre, Ohio.

J.K. Fife (B.B.A. ’98) has been named the assistant director of supply chain operations for Mountain Health Network. He assumed the new position Jan. 1.

Judy Foxx (M.A. ’92) has had two of her photographs have been accepted into the Best of West Virginia juried exhibition at Tamarack in West Virginia.

Michael Hanlon (B.B.A. ’95) travel agency franchise owner of Dream Vacation’s Ocean Dreams Travel in Wilmington, North Carolina, was one of 81 franchise owners nationwide who was recognized as a “Franchise Rock Star” by Franchise Business Review, and independent market research firm.

Tom Hardiman (B.B.A. ’90, M.B.A. ’95) has been named among the top six “Off-Site Construction Influencers” of 2020 by Modular Home Coach.

Andy Haughey (B.B.A. ’99) of Huntington has been named a winner of the Ronald Award by McDonald’s for outstanding contributions to McDonald’s, its employees and guests, and the local community.

Britt Howard (M.S. ’94) is group director, assurance, at Worley in Houston, Texas.

Dr. Audrey Kaiser (M.A. ’96) has received the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award for her contributions to the field of music, theatre and performing arts, as well as commitment to academic excellence. She teaches at the Community College of Rhode Island.

2000s

Dr. Rose M. Ayoob, (B.S. ’01) is a pediatric nephrologist at Nationwide Children’s and medical director of the dialysis program.

Brendan Bump (B.A. ’07) is the pitching coach for Southwestern High School in Hanover, Indiana.

Nate Burton (M.A. ’11) is the athletic director for West Virginia State University in Institute, West Virginia, and was named one of West Virginia Executive magazine’s “Young Guns” for 2021.

Matt (B.A. ’08) and Jillian Gajtka (B.B.A. ’07) welcomed their second son, Henrik Anthony Gajtka, on July 9, 2020.

Nick Kelly (R.B.A ’07) is the new team president of Charlotte FC, the expansion Major League Soccer team in Charlotte, North Carolina, that will begin playing in 2022.

Jay Plyburn (B.A. ’07) is a morning show anchor at television station WZZM in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

RaShad Sanders (B.B.A. ’07) has been appointed the first executive director of the Fairfield Community Development Corporation in Huntington.

Shaun Sarrett (M.A. ’08) is assistant offensive line coach for the Los Angeles Chargers.

Nate Stewart (M.A. ’05) is the athletic director at Carthage College in Wisconsin.

Marshall Alum Appears on Today Show’s ‘Dad’s Got This’ Feature

Dr. Christopher Yandle (M.A. ’07) appeared on the Today Show in January as part of host Craig Melvin’s “Dad’s Got This” series. Yandle, who lives with his family in New Orleans, Louisiana, is the author of Lucky Enough: A Year of a Dad’s Daily Notes of Encouragement and Life Lessons to His Daughter.

He began the lunchbox notes to his daughter, Addison, when he realized that she was showing signs of anxiety and experiencing bullying, due in part to having changed schools often.

“A few days before Thanksgiving, a producer with the Today Show contacted me about my story. We recorded our interview in early January, and it aired on Jan. 28. I had no expectations of what would happen due to the story, but I was surprised and overwhelmed by the response,” Yandle said. “I’ve done interviews before, but this one was special for me because I got to do part of it with Addison. That was the best part for me.”

In addition to Addison, the family includes Yandle’s wife, Ashleigh, and son, Jackson. Read a complete story at https://www.herdalum.com/ alumni-spotlight-chris-yandle.

Dr. Chris Yandle (left) and his daughter, Addison, who inspired a series of daily notes and eventually, a book.

2010s

Lindsay M. Burley (B.A. ’17) practices labor and employment law in the Huntington office of Steptoe & Johnson.

Hayley Drabish (B.B.A. ’19) and Sean Timberlake (B.S.M.E. ’19) were united in marriage on Sat., Feb. 29, 2020, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Newport, Rhode Island. The couple resides in San Diego, California. He is currently a Navy Supply Officer on board the USS Carl Vinson and she is a managing market representative for Monat Global.

Kristina Garrett Gore (B.A. ’11, M.A. ’15) is a teacher in the Logan County, West Virginia, schools and is head coach of the girls’ basketball team at Chapmanvlle Regional High School.

Brandon O. Huff (B.B.A. ’11) was named vice president, director of IT at Ohio Valley Bank. He is a member of the MUAA board.

Matt Stapleton (B.B.A ’10) an attorney in Huntington, has been named a candidate for the “Top 10 Under 40” for personal injury law in West Virginia by the National Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys.

Rob Vanater (B.F.A. ’12) is the owner of two coffee shops in Putnam County, West Virginia.

in memoriam

Dr. Bob Barnett, who taught sport history for 35 years at Marshall and served as chair of the Division of Exercise Science, Sport and Recreation, passed away Oct. 25. A lifelong resident of West Virginia, he wrote more than 300 articles for publications such as Goldenseal, the Washington Post and Sports Heritage Magazine.

He also wrote the book Growing Up in the Last Small Town, published in 2010, and coauthored, with Dana Brooks and Ron Althouse, The Black Athlete in West Virginia, which was published last year.

After graduating from Marshall in 1965 and receiving his Ph.D. from the Ohio State University in 1972, Barnett returned to Marshall as head wrestling coach and a faculty member in the Division of Exercise Science, Sport and Recreation. In 2016, he was inducted into the Marshall Athletic Hall of Fame in recognition of his accomplishments as wrestling coach from 1972 to 1979. During his years at Marshall (1972-2007), he served in a number of roles including professor, division chair, and director of grants and research development for the university. He taught and mentored thousands of athletes and other students.

Recognized by Goldenseal magazine as West Virginia’s foremost sports historian, he published more than 300 articles, two television documentaries and three books. He also was a section editor for the Encyclopedia of Appalachia.

Dorothy (Dee) Fike, a former member of the Clinical Laboratory Sciences faculty who also served as the program director, died Dec. 25.

She retired from Marshall in 2012 and had also taught at the University of Vermont and Virginia Commonwealth University.

The first daughter (of five) born to Oliver Michael and Dorothy Elizabeth (Spanagel) Fike, she graduated from Euclid (Ohio) High School in 1963 and continued her education at Capital University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in biology as well as a medical technology certification from Miami Valley Hospital. She worked as a medical technologist at Euclid General Hospital while earning a Master of Science degree at Cleveland State University.

She loved music and played the violin with university orchestras. Donations in her memory may be made to the Cleveland Orchestra.

Susan Renée Ross, (M.B.A. ’18) senior financial accountant at the Marshall University Research Corporation, died Feb. 13. Her family is requesting that contributions be made in her memory to the Jackson County (Ohio) Board of Developmental Disabilities.

The Rev. Mark Edward Smith (B.A ’91) died Jan. 22. In addition to Marshall, he attended Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and became a United Methodist minister in 1996. He served churches in the Clarksburg, West Virginia, area.

Marc A. Sprouse (B.B.A. ’70, M.B.A. ’75) died Nov. 25. Before moving to Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, he had a 40-year career in banking in the Huntington area, culminating in developing and opening a new bank, Guarantee Bank and Trust, of which he was president and CEO for 10 years. Active in the community, his activities and accomplishments included president of the Marshall University Alumni Association, trustee of the Huntington Museum of Art, president of the Big Green Scholarship Foundation and member of Marshall University Foundation, the Huntington Regional Chamber of Commerce, board of directors of the Tri-State Airport Authority, board of directors of Hospice of Huntington and chair of the Huntington Area Development Council.